Paris may be one of the most expensive cities in the world, but if money is tight, a trip to the French capital doesn’t have to break the bank. Culture Trip has picked the best places for you to stay on the cheap.
Staying in a budget hotel doesn’t necessarily mean scrimping on amenities or style. Some of the best inexpensive places to stay in Paris have stylish rooftop terraces or sumptuous business suites, while others feature well-equipped gyms and on-site gourmet restaurants, or are well located for exploring Paris’s top sites.
Relax on the terrace at OKKO Hotels Paris Rueil-Malmaison
The sleekly designed, four-star OKKO Hotels Paris Rueil-Malmaison is located near Château de Malmaison, and is a short 20-minute RER ride from the main tourist hotspots of Paris. What sets OKKO Hotels Paris Rueil-Malmaison apart from other budget hotels in the city is its spacious sun terrace, which offers fantastic views and, in the warmer months, is the perfect place to soak up some rays. The hotel is a little further out than some other options on this list, but that helps keep the costs down and its amenities, such as a sauna and fitness centre, make it a popular choice.
Located in front of La Flèche d’Or, the mythical Parisian temple of European pop rock, Mama Paris East is one of the best-kept secrets of the Paris hotel scene, and it’s very reasonably priced, too. The 170 sumptuous rooms inside were designed by Philippe Starck, who has previously worked on Paris’s luxury Le Meurice hotel, so visitors will get five-star style for a fraction of the price. The design is quirky, with messages scrawled across the ceilings in the restaurant and on walls and floors in the bedrooms, while in other areas there are swirly carpets and mismatched cushions and chairs. The restaurant serves French home-made cuisine with tapas-style sharing dishes created by legendary French chef Guy Savoy. While the food is a little pricey, it’s worth it. There’s also a pizzeria and a plant-filled rooftop terrace, which is open in the summer for al fresco drinks and bites to eat.
If you’re travelling to Paris for work on a budget, there’s no better place to stay than citizenM Paris La Défense. Located right in the heart of the Parisian business district, there are 175 smart and sophisticated rooms on offer, and the chic interior goes beyond your typical business accommodation. The design is compact and compartmentalised, with beds tucked snugly between huge plasma TV screens and large windows, while the triple-glazed soundproofing promises a perfect night’s sleep. What’s more, canteenM provides a 24/7 pitstop, serving fresh food and healthy drinks whenever you need them. The views of the surrounding skyscrapers from each room are pretty impressive as well.
Located near the trendy Champs-Élysées boulevard, Hôtel Boris V by Happyculture is a chic but cheap four-star boutique hotel housed inside a Haussmann-style building. This hotel is a good option if you’d like to get a taste of Parisian elegance without breaking the bank. There’s a quirkiness to the decor, with decorative antique objects dotted around the retro interiors of the communal lounge area, as well as black-and-white portraits and an old grand piano with trumpets stacked on top, while the bedrooms are furnished with tartan walls and headboards. For business travellers, there’s a conference room complete with a video projector and other meeting facilities.
If you’re travelling to Paris to enjoy a romantic escapade but working within a budget, then it’s worth considering Hôtel Montmartre Mon Amour. As the name suggests, this charming budget hotel specialises in everything related to romance. Lipstick red features across the curtains, walls, cushions and bedspreads, and the walls are decorated with portraits depicting scenes of 1950s romance. The friendly staff will go out of their way to help guests make the most out of their stay, and can prepare an impressive breakfast spread each day, complete with heart-shaped waffles (included within the daily continental buffet at no extra charge), and there are also numerous thoughtful extras you can choose to add to your bill. Located in the picturesque Montmartre district, the whole experience is bundled up at a very reasonable price.
The cosy Hotel de la Mare guest house was refurbished in 2012, and is located in the trendy 20th arrondissement of Paris, not far from popular music venue La Bellevilloise. Some rooms have a somewhat rustic touch, with exposed stone walls and arches, while others are spruced up with vibrant shades of yellow and red. The highlight of this hotel is the well-equipped kitchenette that backpackers can use to help keep costs down. Consider buying fresh produce from the nearby food stores to whip up a meal with friends.
Hôtel Vacances Bleues Provinces Opéra is located in the 10th arrondissement of Paris, near the shopping hotspots of Galeries Lafayette and Les Halles. There are 112 classy guest rooms on offer, each decorated with sumptuous tones of beige, or purple pinstripes. Despite being one of the cheapest hotels in the area, the interiors are surprisingly suave, with elegant Art Deco-style furniture in the lounge.
It’s difficult to beat the Residence Hoteliere Champ de Mars’s location in the 15th arrondissement, which is just a short walk away from the Eiffel Tower, and the price is competitive in comparison to the other hotel options in the area. The cobblestone terrace inside the hotel, with its wrought-iron tables and chairs set against a luscious green backdrop of plants, makes a charming breakfast spot. The rooms are full of character, too, with modern art upon the walls and quirky contemporary lamps, offering style at a good price.
Hôtel Victoria Paris occupies a prime spot in the historic quarter of Montmartre, no more than a 15-minute walk away from the Sacré-Coeur and Gare du Nord station. The small, no-fuss two-star hotel has 103 charming guest rooms, the walls of which are each decorated with a different Parisian cityscape, and some have balconies. There’s a quiet interior courtyard too, and it’s rare to find such a classy hotel in this popular area at such a low price.
